Retyped Courtsey of the Dulcimerman






Pocahontas County       Lillian Belcher        
          
    History of Edray Community
     (by S. B. Moore)

   
    Edray Community is bounded on the west by 

Stony Creek range of mountains; on the north by
 
Elk Mountain, to the top of Slippery Hill on

the  Clover Creek road, then to the Bridger 

place on the Greenbrier river where Paul Sharp 

now lives; on the South by the top of the river 

ridges, including the Fairview and Brush Settle 

ments, to the top of Drinnon Ridge where State 

road crosses and to Elmer Sharp's at the foot 

of Stony Creek Mt.   

     This community is about five miles wide 

where the State Road  crosses, and ten miles 

long from east to west.

     The Drinnons were the first settlers in 

Edray Community.  Thomas Drinnon settled near 

the Edray Grave yard.  There is a one 

difference of opinion at to the exact spot 

where the Drinnon Cabin stood, but I feel sure 

it was on the bank just close to the grave 

yard.  A spring under the bank was always, 

since my earliest recollection, been called the 

"Drinnon Spring."  Other proof is an old appel 

orchard, trees of large sice, mostly winter 

apples, near the spot where the cabin stood.  

My father Isaac Moore went to the orchard in 

the fall with wagon for winter apples when I 

was a small boy, though large enough to pick 

apples from the ground.  My uncle, Robert 

Moore, and his boys always called this field 

the "old orchard field," and it goes by that 

name yet.  A part of this field belongs to A. 

R. Gay and the other part belongs to Willaim M. 

Sharp's heirs, all of which once belong to 

Thomas Drinnon, first settler in this 

community.  He owned a large boundry of land 

several thousand acres that extended from 

Indain Draft to Stoney Creek.  Drennon's Ridge 

took its name from the old settler, an 

everlasting monument.

     Drinnon's home was broken up by the 

Indians.  His wife was captured and taken away 

and murdered somwhere in Elk Mountain.  Charles 

Drinnon a brother of Thomas Drinnon, settled 

near Onote.  He cleared a field which  bears 

the name "Charley Field" which is now owned by 

Anderson Barlow.

     The Drinnons all left this country many 

years ago.  I remember seeing James        

Drinnon a member of this distinguished family. 

I think the Drinnons went to the northwest part 

of the state.

   Robert Moore, my grandfather, who was 

captured by the Indians (see W. T. Price's 

History of Pocahontas for a full account of 

this capture).  Robert Moore, Sr. once lived at 

the Bridger place, and reared his family there. 

My Father, Isaac Moore, was born and raised 

there.  One brother, Andrew, fell from a tree 

and was killed while other members of the 

family 

were stirring off a kettle of sugar.  About 

1820, Robert Moore, Sr. Moved to Edray and 

settled on the Drinnon holdings.  He and his 

boys opened up a fine farm and erected a fine 

two story in the Community.  I believe the 

lumber that went into the house was sawed with 

the whip saw as at the time there was no water 

power saw mills.  The broad ax was extensively 

used in getting out all heavy timber for 

buildings.  Robert Moore and his wife lived and 

died in the brick mansion, and were buried in 

the Edray Grave yard.  He was born 1768, died 

1858, age 90 years.  His wife was born 1771, 

died 1855, age 84 years. These graves were the 

first in the Edray Graveyard; Robert Morre's 

real estate was divided with his boys and one 

daughter.  The name's of the sons were Isaac, 

James,  William and Robert Jr.  Robert received 

the old homestead, lived there many years and 

sold to J. W. Sharp about 1867 for seven 

thousand dollars.  That included the upper part 

of the place, now owned by Isaac Sharp's 

heirs.  I want to say just here, there was an 

old house stood about half way between the old 

brick and the gate at the road.  I think the 

old settler built and occupied this house while 

the brick  house was being erected.  When I was 

a small boy, elections were held in the old 

house.  There was no ticked or ballot used.  

The Commissioner or "Conductor of Elections 

asked the voter: "Who do you vote for?"

     My father Isaac Moore, settled in the 

woods Where I now live.  Father's house was a 

hewed log house, about 16X20 ft; shingle roof, 

chinked and daubed walls; one door and one 

window in the first story, and some in second 

story.  The porch was on the side the stairs 

went up from the porch.

     The soil of the Edray Community is 

productive.  The upland is largely limestone,

naturally sod, with blue grass when shod is 

taken off.  The flat land below the 

mountains is sand stone; not as rich as the 

limestone and not as good for grazing, but 

better for farming when improved; produces well 

and less liable to wash from  heavy rains.


    As to timber, this community has been 

covered with all kinds of hard wood, bass wood; 

some spruce high on the mountains and hemlock 

along the streams. Some of the most valuable 

timber is black walnut, ash, cherry, red oak 

and white oak, a great deal of which has been 

cut and stripped.  Other hardwoods are Chestnut 

oak, some black oak, pink oak and sugar.  There 

is some yellow pine on the flats. 

     Edray Community can boast of the best 

water in the state.  Both limestone and free 

stone.  There are many bold springs around he 

foot of the mountains.  Always flowing, never 

dry, namely.  At Elmer Sharp's, E. K. Sharp's 

and also a sulphur spring at E. K. Sharp's, a 

bold spring at the Cockran place, at A. C. 

Barlow's head of Big Spring, now owned by the 

bank of Marlinton and sufficient to run a grist 

mill with twenty foot overshot water wheel.  

Other bold springs at Mrs. M. K. Sharp's, G. W. 

Mann's and Drinnon Spring at Mrs. J.W. Price's 

at Edray.  John D. Gay owns head of Indian 

Draft.  There are many drilled wells in the 

flats all good water.

     Some of the first schools were taught on 

the old farm homes.  One among the first, if 

not the first was in an old house near Mrs. 

George Baxter's home.  The house was a round 

log structure, clapboard roof, held in place 

with press poles.  The fire place took up most 

of one end of the house.  It was made of rough 

stone.  Chimney made of slate and mud.  Now, 

for light, paper was pasted over the cracks and 

greased to let in the light. Other cracks in 

the building were chinked and daubed.  Scots 

were made of split logs or poles, holes bored 

and pins put in for legs.  The term of school 

was about three months.  The salary was one 

dollar per scholar a month.  Writing was done 

with quill pins.  The teacher boarded with the 

scholars.  My father Isaac Moore, taught at 

this school when a young man.  The first 

schools were called "Open Schools."  Everyone 

spelled and read aloud. 

     The first church in Edray Community was 

built on Stony Creek and called  Hamlin 

Chapel.  It is a hewed log building.  Cracks 

chinked and daubed, shaved shingle roof, side 

galleries, seats, --long benches with slot 

backs, door in one end of building, elevated 

pulpit in other end, two mall 12 light windows 

on sides. Some years ago the side 

galleries were taken out and the 

building ceiled. Benches were taken out and 

chairs put in.  The church is still in use and 

was built in 1835; as the records show it was 

deeded July 4, 1835.


     Edray Church was built in 1863 E. D. King 

was the contractor and builder.  Contract price 

above foundation 0.00.  For this work Lakin 

and Peters furnished about twenty thousand feet 

of lumber from their mill at Clover Lick, 

delivered at Gay Siding; which is now Fair 

Grounds, for ten dollars per thousand white 

pine lumber.  Everything summed up, all told, 

the Edray Church cost 32.25.

    Edray Post Office was the first post office 

in Edray Community.

    When looking for a name, Mrs. Eliza Moore, 

mother of the late George P. Moore being a 

Bible reader, suggested a Bible name and said 

"Call the post office Edrel.  Leaving off the 

el and adding ry making Edray the name of the 

first post office.  This office was established 

about 1830.  As soon as Geo. P. Moore was of 

age, he became post master and continued to be 

until is death in 1922.  He was the oldest 

post master in the U. S. A.

     From Pocahontas Times - - Nov. 4, 1926
                                                    Edray district lies 
in the western pat of 

the county, is bounded on the north by Randolph 

County; northeast by Greenbank District; east 

by Huntersville district; south by Little 

levels District and west by Webster County.  

The surface is rough and mountainous.  In the 

north are the Middle Mountains and southern 

continuations of the Elk and Cheat Mountains; 

in the center are the Black Mountains and in 

the east and southeast rise the lofty peaks of 

Buckley, Marlins and Brushy ranges.

     The principal drainage is to the west with 

the exception of Swago Creek, Stony Creek and 

one or two other small streams which flow 

east and fall into the Greenbrier River.  All 

the streams flow west and from the head waters 

of Gauley and Elk


~~~~~~~~UNABLE TO READ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        A FEW WORDS HERE
        picture dsc09083.jpg

                   been named in the general 

view of the county.

    The first cabin home built within the 

limits of Edray was that erected by Marlin and 

Sewell near the present site of Greenbrier 

Bridge in the 1749 and which was long known as 

Marlins Bottom now changed to Marlinton, the 

county seat of Pocahontas County.  This 

Settlement was tho' it had hot been.  The first 

actual settlers who found what they looking 

for - HOMES-  were Thomas Drennin, Jacob 

Warwick, William Sharp, Robert Moore, John 

Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Robert Gay, William 

Poage, Patrick Slaterly, Robert Duffle, Thomas 

Brock, Lawrence Drennin and John Smith.

     The first grist mill was built by Jonathan 

McNeill in the early part of 1800.  It was 

located on Swago Creek, a short distance from 

its mouth.

    Of those mentioned as the pioneers of the 

district, several were soldiers with General 

Lewis in the battle at Point Pleasant and among 

them were Thomas Drennin.  He was the first 

settler on the land where Edray post office is 

located.  Soon after he built his cabin home, 

it was attacked in his absence by the Indians, 

who killed his wife and a woman named Smith and 

carried his son into captivity.  When Mr. 

Drennin returned home and beheld his home in 

ruins and his beloved wife 

still  in death and thought of his son perhaps 

preserved for a worse fate, his heart failed 

within him but  few days later he repaired to 

Fort Union and volunteered in the army then 

concentrating.  He accompanied it to Point 

Pleasant, participated in the battle  and in 

the march beyond the Ohio.

    At the close of the War he returned to his 

mountain home but there all the  ties for him 

were severed and he resolved to journey to the 

west and there among savage tribes search for 

his beloved son.  On the eve of his departure 

on his hazardous mission his neighbors gathered 

to bid him God-speed.  Then with his rifle he 

pushed out into the wilderness.  A long year 

passed away and there was no tidings of him for 

there were none to bring them and his friends 

believed that he had fallen a victim to savage 

cruelty, but not so;  he had journeyed far to 

the north-west and found his son in the 

possession of a trader near Detroit, Mich.  The 

homeward journey was begun and at last both 

reached home and lived long in what is now 

Pocahontas County. Drennins Ridge, now owned by 

Mrs. Alice Robertson, keeps ever in memory the 

name of the brave pioneer, Drennin.   

                          .
   Feb. 29, 1940           Nelle Y. Mc
                           Marlinton, W. Va.
  



                -1- 

   Chapter 4  -  Section 4  - Part a.

     The Drinnons were the first settlers in 

the Edrey Community. Thomas Drinnon, son of 

Walter Drinnon of Ireland, settled in Edray 

about 1760.  The Drinnon cabin stood

on the bank near the present graveyard. A

spring under the bank has always been known as 

the Drinnon Spring.  Not far from the cabin was 

a favorite camping place for Indians  , and

many stone relics have been found here.         

Other proof of the site of this cabin was an 

old apple orchard, and one tree remains to this 

day, over a hundred years old and known as the

Drinnon apple.   This field is known as the 

"Old Orchard Field".  A part of It belongs to 

W. L. Price and the other part to A. R. Gay.

     Early records.is tell us that Thomas 

Drinnon was a soldier with General Lewis

in the Battle of Point Pleasant.  When he 

returned hose, he found his cabin in ruins.    

His wife had been killed by the Indians, and 

his son Charles carried into captivity.       

He was so broken up over his wire's 

death and the fate of his son that he returned 

to the army and marched beyond the Ohio river.

   At the close of the war he returned to his 

mountain home, but there were no ties to hold 

him, end he resolved to journey to the west, 

and there among savage tribes search for 

his lost son. So with his rifle he pushed out 

into the wilderness. A year passed and there 

ears no tidings of him. 

His friends believed that he had fallen a 

victim of savage cruelty.   The fact was that 

he had Journeyed far to the Northwest and found 

his lost son in possession of a trader
                    2

near Detroit. The homeward Journey was begun, 

and at last both reached home and lived many 

years In what Is now Pocahontas County.


Drinnon owned a large boundary of land, several 

thousand acres that extended from Indian Draft 

to Stony Creek.  Drinnon's Ridge took Its name 

from the Old settler.   The Drinnons left this 

section long ago and we know nothing of the 

descendents   of these brave pioneers.

   The settlers to follow the Drinnons were the 

Moores.  About 1880 Robert Moore, Jr. moved to 

Edray from the Bridger Place on Greenbrier 

River and settled on the Drinnon holdings. 

He and his boys opened up a fine farm and 

erected a two story brick dwelling---the only 

brick dwelling In to. community.

Robert Moore and his wire lived au,. died In 

the "brick mansion".  He was born in 1768 and 

died 1858 aged ninety years. His grave was the 

first in the Edrey Graveyard.

Robert Moore's farm was divided among his sons 

and one daughter.  The names of the sons were: 

lsaac, James, Wi11am and Robert, Jr. 

    Robert received the old homestead and lived 

there several years. In 1867 he sold the old 

home to J. W. Sharp.  

Isaac Moore settled in the woods just opposite 

the present site of the Edray Church.  His home 

was a hewed log house about sixteen by twenty 

feet, two stories high, shaved-shingle roof,

chinked and daubed wells, one door and one 

window in the first story.    In 1911 a fine 

frame house was erected on the site of this old 

log house by S. B. Moore.


   About 1861 Edray Community swarmed with 

Soldiers on the march or in camp.  Isaac More 

contracted camp fever and

 
                   -3- 

   as he convalesced he was seized by measles 

from which he died.   He too was buried In the 

new graveyard by the side or his father.

    Colonel John Baxter was en early settler in 

this community.  He came here about 1800, and 

is the first member of his family about whom 

any definite Information can be found.

   He was the first member of the Baxter family 

to settle In Pocahontas County.  His home was 

at Sulphur Spring about three miles from the 

Drinnon cabin. He was the first Colonel Of

the 127th Regiment. In the organization of the 

county, he was a leader and he hold a prominent 

place in the early history of the county. When 

the county was first formed, he administered 

the oaths of office to the other members of the

first court in 1822.   For many years he was a 

justice Of the peace and a member of the 

Pocahontas County Court.   He did much in 

framing business papers and frequently adjusted 

disputes out of court. His library was the 

largest and best in the county, Containing over 

a hundred volumes.

    About this time there became a popular 

demand for a Constitutional Convention and The 

assembly in 1827-28 passed an act providing 

that vote be taken upon the question. 

This resulted in a large majority in favor of 

the convention and that body assembled in 

Richmond, October 5, 1829.  This was the most 

remarkable body of men that had assembled in

Virginia since 1788.  There sat James Madison 

and "'Madison and James Monroe, ex-presidents of 

the United States and many others renouned for 

their wisdom end eloquence. The body was 

Composed of ninety-six members and of the whole 

number eighteen were from the region now 

embraced in the limits of West Virginia.   
 
            -4-
 
   Among these was John Baxter representing 

Pocahontas County.

   Other early settlers were the Barlows, 

Smiths, Duncnns, and Duffields.
              -

   The Edray Post Office was established about 

1850 and was the first post office in 

Pocahontas County. When looking for a name, 

Mrs. Eliza Moore, mother of the late  George P. 

Moore, being a great student of the Bible 

suggested a Bible name.  She said, "Call the 

post office Edrel, leave of the e1 and add ay 

making Edray the name- . (Numbers 21-33).

The name Edral means a fortress. In Joshua

it is stated that Edrel is one of the fenced 

cities, and that may have  suggested tne name 

to Mrs. Moore, for at a very early date this 

little village was a fenced clearing.  George 

P. Moore was appointed postmaster in 1856 by 

president Pierce.  He was only sixteen years of 

age when he assumed this responsibility. He 

served as postmaster until 1885.  William 

Scott was appointed postmaster under President 

Cleveland for some time, and then George P. 

Moore was appointed again and served until his 

death in 1922.  His service made him the oldest

postmaster in the United States.  He served 

sixty-four years.
                                             In 
the early days Mills were of great importance 

and we find that the first mill was built by 

Robert Moore, Sr, at the head of Big Spring. 

This house was hewed log building, two or more 

stories high, equipped with a twenty food over 

shot water wheel and water trunk from the head 

of spring.  The inside equipment of the mill 

consisted of two sets of runners, both 

country made - one for grinding wheat and the 

other for grinding corn and cuops.
 
                 5

    The first saw mill of the community was 

built near the grist mill by Isaac Moore and 

got water from the same source.  These mills 

were used for many years and this spot was the 

most important business center of the community.

     The first store in Edray was owned and 

kept by William Allen at the place where Elmer 

Poage now lives.  Isaac McNeel, Amos and Henry 

Barlow, and George P. Moore had stores at this 

same location.

    The first schools in the community were 

held in the settlers homes.  The teacher 

received free board in the  homes of the pupils 

and would spend a week in the home of one pupil 

and then move on to the next.  The first real 

school house was near Mrs. George Baxter's 

home. The house was a round log structure with 

clapboard room held in place by press poles.  

The fire place took up most of one end of the 

room.  It was made of rough stone and the 

chimney was made  of slats and mud.  For light 

greased paper was pasted over the cracks. Seats 

were made of split logs, holes bored and pins 

put in for legs.  The term of school was three 

months and the teachers salary one dollar a 

month for each pupil.

    The first church  in Edray Community was 

built on  Stony Creek and called Hamlin 

Chapel.  It is a hewed log building, cracks 

chinked and daubed, shaved  shingle roof, side  

galleries, and for be seats long benches with 

slat backs.  Some years ago the side galleries 

were taken out and the building  ceild.  The 

benches were replaced with chairs.  This church

was built about 1835 and is still in use.


Jacob Marlin
William Sharp
Chronicles of Border Warfare
Richard Isaac McNeel
John Jordan